Anthonia Duru
In continuation of her efforts to end Violence against Women and Girls(VAWG) especially at the grassroots communities, a non-governmental organization- Initiative for Women and Girls Right Advancement (IWOGRA) with support from ActionAid Nigeria recently organized a ‘Roundtable Engagement with Traditional and Religious Leaders of Chika, Jikwoyi and Dutse Alhaji Communitiy, Abuja.
The engagement had in attendance the traditional rulers of Chika, Jikwoyi and Dutse Alhaji community and their cabinet members. More so, the religious institutions in the communities were duly represented by the leaders of the Central Mosques in Chika, Jikwoyi and Dutse Alhaji, Baitun-Nur Community Mosque in Chika, Living Faith Church in Chika, Assemblies of God Church in Dutse Alhaji, ECWA Goodnews Church in Chika, Jikwoyi and Dutse Alhaji and many others.
While delivering her Welcome Address, the Executive Director of IWOGRA, Nkechi Obiagbaoso-Udegbunam stated that violence against women and girls is commonly perpetuated in rural communities and these forms of violence have the backing of some cultural and social norms which have lingered on and have continued to relegate women and girls. She added that the organization is passionate about addressing issues of violence against women and girls at the community level in order to give women and girls their voices, empower them to be able to live without fear of violence and be equipped with access to justice. She enjoined the leaders of the communities to see the engagement as an opportunity for them to use their positions to address violence against women and girls in their various sectors.
In other to keep the leaders abreast of interventions IWOGRA has made so far in their communities, the Program Officer of IWOGRA presented the Overview of the Project ‘Strengthening the Capacities of Women’s Right Organizations to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls’ (SLOC VAWG) project and the activities implemented so far. She also intimated them about the objectives of the Roundtable Engagement which she stated are to engage with the communities’ traditional and religious leaders to become influential allies in ending VAWG, to adopt/develop new codified enabling laws for addressing VAWG at the community level and to support women and girls’ access to justice at the community as well as referring cases to relevant authorities where community sanctions may not be stiff/beyond that level.
Nkechi Obiagbaoso-Udegbunam presented the violence against women and girls issues identified by the communities’ women and girls during IWOGRA’s engagement with them which were also confirmed by the men and boys as the common forms of violence they perpetuate against women and girls. According to her, the women and girls of the three communities identified rape and child molestation, men neglecting their responsibilities and abusing women for not performing those responsibilities, maltreatment and abuse of women and girls, parents encouraging/forcing their daughters to commit abortion when they have unwanted pregnancies/Child Abuse, forced marriage, victim blaming/stigmatization, female children being denied their right to education and relegation of women in the family and the community.
The leaders were therefore tasked to come up with action plans and commit to use their offices and positions as traditional and spiritual leaders in addressing the identified forms of violence against women and girls.
His Royal Highness, Bawa Jetta, the Traditional Ruler of Jikwoyi Community commended the organization for the laudable initiative in his community. He committed to have a meeting with his cabinet members so they can consider the issues identified by the women and girls and develop strategies for addressing them as he is committed to ending all forms of violence perpetuated against women in his Jikwoyi Community.
The Traditional Ruler of Chika Community, Chief Istifanus Shegaje committed to have a meeting with his cabinet members and the religious organisations in his community to enable them develop laws that will protect women and girls, and also prescribe stiffer punishments for anyone who violates or abuses a woman/girl in the community.
The religious leaders also committed to incorporate sermons that frown at committing violence against women and girls and appealed with IWOGRA to oblige them when they invite the organization at their religious functions to address the congregation on issues of violence against women and girls.
